Airplane hangar door



6 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 16, 1952 J. F. MCKEE- ETAL AIRPLANE HANGAR DOOR Filed May 11, 1946 ef/bia@ Z/a//a j Z @#0712496- sept. 16, 1952 J F, MGKEE ETAL 2,610,366

AIRPLANE HANGAR DOOR J. F. MCKEE ETAL AIRPLANE HANGAR DOOR Sept. 16, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 1 1, 1946 IN VEN T0125.

16; 1952 l 'I F. MckEEE-rm. y 2,610,366

Filed May 11, 194e?` AIRPLANE HANGAR DOOR slneets-sheet 5 J. F. MCKEE ET AL AIRPLANE HANGAR DOOR Sept. 16, 1952 6 sheets-sheet 6 Filed May 11, 1946 covered with sheet metal to form a tight en- As seen in Fig. l, the ends of theV closure. building are indicated generally by the numeral I0, while the curved wall which forms the back,

roof and a portion of the front wall is indicated by the numeral I2. If desired, cnice-or shop space I4 may be partitioned off at one or two of the corners of the building at the back, particularly if the building is of such size that the aircraft to be housed therein do not occupy substantially the full internal space.

At the front of the building, a large generally rectangular opening I6 is provided through which aircraft can be moved from the interior to theexterior thereof. This openingy is closed by anoverhead-type door I8 which has slightly less radius. of curvature than the face of the building and is set back slightly, so that it can moveV intoan overhead position inside of the building while clearing the building roof and trussing which supports the latter. ThisY is best shown in Fig. 3. For the convenience of the users, the large door I8 may be provided with a small entrance door 20 which is recessed slightly behind the surface of the large door and which slides to one side on top and bottom tracks 2|.

The building with the exception ofV the door maybe largely conventional in construction in that Ait .is comprised of the necessary built-up trusses 22 to support a plurality of longitudinally extending stringers 24 which in turn support the sheet metal roof I2 previously referred to. Preferably, although not necessarily, the structural members are cut from standard shapes and are Welded together in unitary subsections which may be prefabricated in jigs and later assembled by boltingY or riveting together at the point of erection.A Since the door I8 swings upwardly in amanner to be described presently into an overhead position so as to clear the opening, the trusswork throughout the generally arcuate portionwithin which the door swings should be arranged, asillustrated in Fig. 3, so as to lclear the face of the door. not primarily concerned with the structure of the hangar building per se, but rather with the doorV and the operating mechanism, the above description of the building proper is believed sufcient for the present purpose.

yThe doorl I8 comprises a convex sheet metal front wall 28 which is secured to and supported by internal'trussing 28 formed of longitudinally extending stringers 30 which support vertical ribs 32. 1 This structure is in turn braced by diagonally extending members 34 and, if desired, may be formed in a. plurality of sections as is best indicated in Fig. 8 where the door is shown as divided into three pieces which may be prefabricated and bolted together at their adjacent edges 36. The door as thus constructed is sufficiently strong with comparatively little internal trussing. At any rate, it is one of the fe'aturesfof the present invention Ato provide a door of this type which is sufficiently strong so that. it may be supported at the ends alone and when thus supported will resist any anticipated Inasmuch as the invention is` 21 wind load and will avoid troublesome ilexure when supported by the ends in different positions. This door is located substantially immediately inside the door opening and, as may be best seen in Fig. 13, the end wall I0 of the building supports an inwardly extending jarnb 38 which is curved so as to iit the front face of the convex door. At its ends, the door covering 26 is provided with jamb strips 40 of rubber, canvas, or similar material which presses against the jamb 38 vso as to seal the door against leakage. Preferably, the jamb strips 40 should be located directly opposite the end door frame members 42 which are similar in shape to the ribs 32 so as not to stress the sheet metal door covering.

YThe end framemembers 42 are connected to l upper and lower rearwardly extending door supporting arms 44 and 46, respectively, which togetherform a triangular yoke braced by a diagonal member 41. At the apex where these two members are brought together they are secured in rigid relationship by beingv welded or otherwise secured togusset plates 48 or other suitable structural elements. A bearing is associatedwith the gusset plate 48 at each end of the door and this bearing which has its axis parallel to theface of the door is journaled upon a horizontal pin or bolt 50 secured at the upper end of a triangular standard 52. The standards are formed Vof inner and outer structural members which straddle the yoke 44 and support the bearing pins 50 at each end of the door. The lower end of each standard 52 is secured by means of nuts 54'to bolts or threaded reinforc-V ing rods, the other ends of which are xed within the top of a concrete pier or foundation member 56. Y l c i Y Y c The door may beswung about the pins 5D into a position above the door opening and underlying the roof of the hangar, under which conditions the weight of the door is carried entirely by the pins 55 and upon vthe separatek piers or foundation members 55 which form no portion of the structure of the` hangar building proper. Under no conditions, therefore, does the door place any load upon the building. Preferably, so as to keep as large a free space within thehangar as possible, the piers 5S are located immediately adjacent the end walls of the hangar.

Inasmuch asa door of the size necessary in buildings of this character is comparatively heavy. Ait is preferable to provide a counterbalancing system suciently effective so that for all practical purposes the only energy necessary to be expended in opening the Vdoor consists merely in that necessary to overcome friction. The counterbalancing system to be described presently has been found to be effective throughout the entire range of operation of the door to a degree such that the door will remain in any set position. It has been found practical, therefore, to provide a simple manually operated crank door opener for moving hangar doors of thistype. in even comparatively large sizes. Of course, if desired, motor driven door openers may be used and will' be preferable for very large doors. j

The counterbalancing system comprises a curved cam-like track 58 formed of channel iron which is rigidly secured to the upper arm 44and braced by a strut 45. A cablelies over the face of this track and has onefend secured tothe lower end 60 thereof in any suitable manner. With the door in closed positionthe shape of the track is such that the Vcable ex- Vtions of the door.

attachmenteiinafsle gradually passes-werfen@armere `:n1i1-1eysiiflflcicfited trally-inthe:heinearffromfffntftofbeck.

theFpI-ler or pulleys 64: thecabIeextends? d, wardly eandriisfsecureelvto lcounterweieht .'66- VAs-fslflcwn ,sin the Y, @reit aree-secured te -ihaneerbiildine'itselfneer-@thefuppereed off nef-pf the 'vertical structural-members -168 will@ esupportsthe-roitruss` 'isi-One niemvliertpfl;therefore,e-sheuld hate iieient trength to carry the counterweight or, .f if ldesired,y fia the weighted the y cou terWeight--infall positions o f .thef door whenv A-is-.-the horizontale-distance between -the v.,center ofpgravity indieatedQatn X of f ,the door system and thefpivot point r5i) and B1 'ifs -ShOr-test distance from t pvot point to thedine i C --Which is anee'xtens ditte-ree 4f-itlrie cableDassi.A grvfro'mV the canvtrack -58lto t A"With,thisY2ememain@, the weight of Ithe counterweight BG/can-ebe-,adj'usted so; Yas f substantially exactly to 'lcalzatr`-1ce-T the weight okfl .tliied'oor1 infonefposition, .with the result that the-door will beg-balancedinall 'positions. l A

So afsf to:.provide-aL goo'dseal between f the. door and the "Jarirbs nwithout 3excessive V `friction throughout the' movement; of .the door, the; pivot point 'lllisr so positioned off fthe door 'spportiiigyoke .ifssslightly'lon'ger than the lower A.arno -46.1 'lIn other Y'vtords, p. the center of Vcurvature of i the door, y indicated :at D. onthfe ,'radiuszline`.-.B, is- `al'iove the horizontal @voting-,aids SU/-O-Iedb'I. .Thefr'esultof this arrangement fisthatfjivvhenv-fthe door-,is moved theflowe'r edpa'sses 'i'.lifroughvl al .circle vof smaller radiuslin'dicated at l than the Acircle generated by 4the Supper `end ,di tlfiejfdoor, the vlatter circle being indicated at 12. "This effect ulill`bestbe seen in Figs.and lQvwhere it becomes apparentupon nspectionthat as soon as the door commences to move'ttardly from its closed position it Willf'berretractedirornfthe jambs on both sides from top to vbottom and will therejambs or other parts of the hangar'buil'dnfg.

freely ,until just before reaching the lovverrnost position Qwhereupon it cornes -into contactiwith ltlie -j amb's throughout theirl. full lengths substantially simultaneously, Y 1

Alternative counterbalancing schemes `for raccomplishingflmuch the. same- 4ei-ects'are illustrated i-nFigs. llfand 12. v.Irrligt-irer11 a cil'lspring Hl .'iias' been @substituted for thef-Tweght 66 .fand cabley 62. FAsR in the.previousinstancefhwever, the lower forward.endfoflthefspring is secured to a length of cable which passes over an arcuate trackifl" similar to the ,ic'ains'haped track58' ex testing 'that its "shape Lis' modified siiiewnat fro'rh that'o'f Ffg'sf 5, y6 aridlibeeause the-spring rate will 'change somewhat at different posi- In other words, the spring will tend to exert a stronger pull when the door is down than it will when it is' up, and therefore the track 'I6 will more closely apf maxi-meteen arewie"Circlewith-fits'leenerff .curvaturefaiacentvthef teniet-sit s y In the arrangerneriii=-c i f` 'grlgfa *zi-: blell1 I Seemed 'ftorthcsupneriportion of-tl1j1-1d0er at' a convenientipointor it may bepassed.--dowhwa1fy QVrfa fportion of-thepfaee :of i:the-:door the door fface ya ;tjsfasea ,sheaveffor thefeableg'the QppQSite--endlef Cable 18 beingccnectedfto azdiferentialedrum 80 showninfgreater detail rin Fig. .Q1-fi. fThis-,diiierentialdvumisgprovidetl 'with a spiralsgroove-alof varying'distancelironi the center of rotationrso -that.-as=thelcable Tis wound uponv tiled-rum' the n point 1fatjxivhic cablev leaves the drum. tangentially will vary respect .tor 4its distance from 4theimnterl of yrotationtsasto gi'vge theftdesired Vforce moment; vAnothe portion@ofy this-.drumis provided 'l'tt'rith a" similar spiral-r `groove aboutqfwliich a secoi -:ablelilu is- .wound, rthe .latter `v cable being `'corinectrecl` oeaj counteiveight 88,1Sincelas-1the` door swingsr from A`it'fsgloWer fpo'sitio'n .to the vupperrnjst positionfthe center.A fofI gravity movesrearwardly toward *the-:axisgof rotationtr, it willbelappreiated that` 1 when the A.door is lin l its lower positionthe cable `l8sh0uld` run oi theporftiorl of the groove' 82' having the smallest diameter Springs" 96"'1in "compression fbetweenirne n 1iars numeral I4. Whether such omce or shop or 7. equiv/aient partitioned space is provided 1s largely a matter' of choice and does not formera part of the present invention. y

Byrotating the crank l I8 in one-direction the shaft 10B and chain |04 are driven in the' same direction, thus causing the trolley 9B vto move rearwardly, forinstance, thereby pulling upon the arm 92 which in turn p'ull'svthe door from closed to openV position. VVBy reversing the direction of rotation of the-crank H8,y the car 98Y is moved forwardly, thereby pushing theY door downwardly into'closed position. v

YFrom the above it will be apparent that our invention accomplishes the objects set out for it and VW'provides a door for a building which is easy to'operate puts no load upon the building, vis economical of construction, is admirably suited :for prefabrication, and. in addition gives the '.building and door a neat appearance, since the door is always within the building. Further,` of icourse, it permits several buildings to be arranged end to end withouty providingspacebeyond theendsof any of the buildings to accom-J :modate doors when in their open position as is necessary with hangar doors of customary construction. y Y

The counterbalancred door construction disclosed in this application is claimed in our divisicnal application Serial No. 301,946, led July 31, 41952.

Having described our invention, whatwe claim as new andv useful and desire to secureby I etters Patent of the United States is: Y 1. In a building having a wall formed substantially as a portion of a substantially horizontally disposed cylinder, said wall` having an opening to form a doorway therein, a door for closing said opening, said door also beingV :formed as aportion of a cylinder and being located within` said building and behind said wall, said door being sufficiently rigid to beV self-supporting,.a singlehorizontal pivot to the rear of said door and adjacent each" end thereof, supports for saidpivots, apair lof arms attached to the door at each end thereof and rotatably mounted on the adjacent pivot whereby said door can be swung into an overhead position about ,an axis established by said pivots, sealing means on the peripheral edgesof the front facerof said door and cooperating curved jambs bordering said doorway opening, thervertically extending peripheral Yedges yof said door and saidV sealing means conforming in curvature to the curvature of the -jambs to adapt thedoor to be brought into sealing engagement with said jambs when the door is inits lowermost position, one arm ofeach pair being shorter than the otherwhereby said pivots are eccentrically Vlocated relative to the axis of curvature of said doorjamb so as to break the bond between said sealing meansy and said jamb upon initial upward movement ofthe door from closed position.

v 2. In a building Vhaving a .wall `formed substantially as a portion ofa substantially hori- .zontally disposed cylinder, said wall having van opening towform a doorwaytherein, a door for closing saidopening, said door also being formed as a'jportion of a cylinder and being located withinjsaid building and behind said wall; said door being sufficiently .rigid to be self-supporting, a single-horizontal pivot to the rear of said 8- door and adjacent each end -thre'of, supports' for saidA pivots,'upper and lower arms attached to the door at` each end thereof andV rotatably mounted on the adjacent pivot whereby said door-can be-swung into an overhead position about an axis 'established by said pivots, and cooperating curved jambs bordering said'doorway opening, the vertically extending peripheral edgesV ofsaid door conforming in curvature to the curvature ofthe jambs to adapt thev door to be brought into sealing engagement with said jambs when the door` is in its lowermost position, said upper arms being longer than the lower arms whereby said pivots are eccentrically located relative to the axis of curvature of said doorjamb so as to release said door from said -jamb during initial upward movement of the door from closed position. 3. In a building having a wall formedV substantially as a portion of a vsubstantially 'horizontally disposed cylinder, said wall having an opening to form a doorway therein, a door for closing said opening, said door also being formed as a portion of aY cylinder and being located within said building and behind said wall, said door being suiciently Vrigid togbe self-supporting, a singlehorizontal pivot to the rear of said door'and adjacent each end thereof, supports for said pivots, a pair of arms attached to the door at each endV thereof-and rotatably mounted on the ladjacent pivot whereby said door can be swung into an overhead position about an axis established by said pivots, cooperating curved jarnbs borderingV said doorway opening, and'sealing means adapted to engageV between saidA door and*V said jamb when said door is in closed position, the 'vertically extending Yperipheral edges of said door, saidja'mbs and said 'seal-v ing means conforming in curvature to adapt the door to be brought into sealing engagement with said jambs when the door is in its lowermost position, one arm of each pair being shorter than the other whereby said pivots are eccentrically located relative to thea'xis of curvature ofsaid door jamb so as to break the sealing engagement between'k said door and said jamb upon initial upward'movement of the door from closed position.

y JOHN F.- MCKEE. f MELVIN' E. HARTZLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin the le of this patent:

UNITED STATESv PATENTS Germany 1939 

